Course Description: This course is designed to provide you
with a basic understanding of how politics and government works in numerous
countries. It will also introduce you to the primary concepts and theories of
comparative political analysis. Each week we will explore the politics of a
different country. We will also undertake discussions and exercises that explore
important political questions and demonstrate how to compare cross-nationally.

All readings listed
below are from Mark Kesselman, Joel Kreiger, and William Joseph, eds. Introduction to Comparative Politics,
5th Edition unless otherwise noted. Click
here to go to the companion website. Many of our
Friday activities will also be based on the
Comparing Governments
website. Registration is required with the (free) access code in the
textbook.

A.Weekly Country Tests (5% each; 50% total): As
we will be covering a different country each week, we will start class on each
FRIDAY with a test on the lectures and reading for that week. These tests will
focus on the history, key actors, and institutions of these respective politics
systems -- the 'nuts and bolts', as it were. Tests will consist of assorted
objective questions -- multiple choice, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and
true-false.

B. Two Comparative
Essay
Exams(25% each; 50% total): As the weekly tests will focus more on
objective questions, the exams will deal more with conceptual issues and essays
which require you to analyze, compare, and contrast the countries covered in the
course.

A funny example of
comparative analysis -- Slate
article on different national versions of The Office.

NOTE: Links to the
PowerPoint slides for the lectures and test terms will be added as the course
progresses.